The education and childcare sectors in Flanders have yet to massively adopt flexi-jobs, according to quarterly statistics released by the National Social Security Office (NSSO) on Monday.
Since 1 April 2024, schools and nurseries in Flanders have been able to hire flexi-job workers. In the initial months, however, this option seems to have been underutilised, with the NSSO reporting just 27 flexi-jobs in education and 210 in childcare for the third quarter, which includes the summer vacation months of July and August.
In the previous quarter, only 4 and 64 such jobs were recorded respectively.
In contrast, the total number of Belgian workers opting for a flexi-job increased sharply by 19% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2024, reaching 181,727 people. Most flexi-job workers are active in hospitality (76,019) and retail (28,560).
Other sectors that joined the system on 1 January 2024 show significant growth. Transport and logistics recorded 3,086 flexi-jobs in the third quarter, primarily involving bus and coach drivers. Funeral services activated 1,621 flexi-jobs, automotive garages 1,037, and driving schools 457.
The flexi-job scheme was launched on 1 December 2015, allowing individuals who work at least 80% of full-time hours with one employer to take on an additional job. Last year, several new sectors were included.
In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, flexi-jobs have not yet been organised in the education sector, the office of Minister Valérie Glatigny said on Monday.
“However, it is a topic we can consider within our various working groups focused on improving the attractiveness of the teaching profession,” it said.
Childcare in French-speaking Belgium also does not employ flexi-job workers, according to the office of Walloon Childcare Minister Valérie Lescrenier.
